Metal fibre agglomerate and process for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The invention relates to a metal fiber agglomerate comprising fibers with an equivalent diameter of between 1 μm and 30 μm and with a length of between 1 mm and 20 mm, with the feature that the core of the agglomerate contains at least one bundle of fibers oriented substantially parallel to one another, while the casing consists of a network of randomly oriented fibers. The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of these metal fiber agglomerates, characterized by a succession of steps in which the agglomerate is subjected to a continuous tumbling movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A metal fiber agglomerate having a core and a casing, said agglomerate comprising fibers with an equivalent diameter of between 1 μm and 30 μm and with a length of between 1 mm and 20 mm, wherein the core of the agglomerate contains at least one bundle of fibers oriented substantially parallel to one another, while the casing consists of a network of randomly oriented fibers. 
     
     
       2. A metal fiber agglomerate according to claim 1, in which the ratio of the length to the diameter of the fibers is between 100:1 and 2000:1. 
     
     
       3. A metal fiber agglomerate according to claim 1, wherein the agglomerate contains between 2×10 4  and 2×10 6  fibers. 
     
     
       4. A process for manufacturing metal fiber agglomerates according to claim 1, starting from a cut Fe/Cu/SS composite, and comprising the following steps: (a) chemical pickling with sulphuric acid of the iron casing around the cut composite;   (b) subsequent electrolytic removal of the remaining iron casing and the copper casings of the composite;   (c) rinsing of the fibers with dilute sulphuric acid;   (d) rinsing of the fibers with water;   (e) drying of the fibers, and wherein the composite is continuously subjected to a tumbling movement in steps (a) through (d).   
     
     
       5. A process for manufacturing metal fiber agglomerates according to claim 1, in which metal fiber bundles impregnated with glue are washed in a glue-dissolving medium while being subjected to a continuous tumbling movement in order to remove the glue. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 5, wherein the glue is polyvinyl alcohol and the glue-dissolving medium is water.